Grinding Machine for Grinding the Rails of a Track

ABSTRACT

A grinding machine, manually displaceable on a track in a longitudinal direction of the track, for grinding rails of the track. The grinding machine includes a support frame which is designed for rolling on the rails via guide rollers and which carries an energy module and a work module. The work module has a pivotable grinding unit. The grinding unit includes an electric motor and a grinding tool powered by the same. The grinding unit is supported in a motor frame for pivoting about a longitudinal axis, and the motor frame is adjustably mounted relative to the support frame.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The invention relates to a grinding machine, manually displaceable on a track, for grinding rails of a track, including a support frame which is designed to roll on the track via guide rollers and on which are arranged an energy module and a work module, wherein the work module comprises a pivotable grinding unit.

PRIOR ART

Various rail grinding machines are provided for removing imperfections on the rail, such as, for example, weld beads at rail joints, build-up welding, check rails, and burr formations on rail heads. Grinding machines of this kind are already well known from DE 20 2010 007 264 U1, DE 202 10 014 U1 and DE 202 10 021 U1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to show an improvement over the prior art for a grinding machine of the type mentioned at the beginning.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by way of a grinding machine according to claim 1.

Advantageous further developments of the invention become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention provides that the grinding unit comprises an electric motor and a grinding unit powered by the same, that the grinding unit is supported for pivoting about a longitudinal axis in a motor frame, and that the motor frame is arranged to be adjustable relative to the support frame. Due to this compact design and the flexible adjustability of the movably supported elements, it is possible to treat almost any point of the rail profile with high precision and efficiency.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the grinding unit is pivotable relative to the motor frame by at least 180°. As a result, both sides of the rail profile can be treated in an advantageous way with one grinding unit in several work positions.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the electric motor is designed encapsulated. Thus, the electric motor is protected from the grinding dust arising during working operations.

A further improvement of the device according to the invention provides that the grinding machine comprises a heat exchanger and a pump, and that the electric motor is designed having a liquid cooling system. With the liquid cooling system it is possible to dissipate a large quantity of heat in a technically simple manner and with low noise, and a consistent performance of the electric motor can be ensured.

In an alternative embodiment it is useful if the grinding machine comprises a compressor, and if the electric motor is designed having a compressed air cooling. Thus, the electric motor can be designed in a compact way, and the cooling system is practically maintenance-free. In this, it is also possible to connect the cooling system on site to an external construction site compressor in order to thus reduce the weight of the grinding machine even further.

A simple embodiment of the invention provides that the electric motor is connected to the energy module via sliding contacts. The sliding contacts guarantee a flexible energy transmission to the electric motor.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention exists in that the electric motor is connected to the energy module via a flexible cable and a plug connection. This flexible connection ensures a generous freedom of movement of the electric motor in working operations. Via the plug connection, the energy module can be uncoupled without problem from the electric motor for transport.

A further improvement of the invention provides that the motor frame is supported for vertical adjustment in an intermediate frame, and that the intermediate frame is adjustable in the transverse direction relative to the support frame. With this, an even greater freedom of movement of the grinding unit and a more flexible working operation resulting therefrom is ensured in order to treat the rail with precision.

In a continuing embodiment of the invention it is provided that the motor frame is arranged to be pivotable about a vertical axis relative to the intermediate frame for free angular positioning of the grinding tool. Thus, the grinding tool is placed upon the rail surface at a pre-defined angle, and the rail is machined precisely.

In an advantageous further development, the intermediate frame is mounted on the support frame by means of manually detachable roller elements. With this, the intermediate frame is displaced almost friction-free relative to the support frame, and the intermediate frame including the grinding unit can be dismounted in a simple way from the support frame for easier transport.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a combustion engine/generator unit is arranged as energy module. With this, a continuous working operation independent of a power source is guaranteed.

In an advantageous further development, the energy module comprises an electric energy store. To that end, electric energy is intermediately stored for longer working operations of the grinding machine. With adequate sizing of the accumulator, a serving combustion engine/generator unit can be switched off temporarily (for example, in tunnels) or entirely omitted.

A simple embodiment of the invention provides that the support frame is made up of parts, with an adjustable distance between the guide rollers associated with the one rail and the guide rollers associated with the other rail. With this, it is possible to adapt the grinding machine to any track gauge.

In a continuing embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the energy module is connected to the support frame by means of manually detachable fastening elements. The transport of the energy module separated from the support frame is thus considerably facilitated.

Essentially, the invention combines several individual machines which were previously required. (Rail head grinding machine, rail web grinding machine, switch grinding—and deburring machine).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. There is shown in schematic representation in:

FIG. 1 side view of grinding machine

FIG. 2 top view of detail of free angular positioning

FIG. 3 detail view of motor frame with grinding unit

FIG. 4-7 working positions of grinding unit

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The grinding machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a manually guided machine for treating rails 2 of a track 3. It comprises a support frame 5, designed to roll on the rails 2 via guide rollers 4, at the ends of which an energy module 6 and a work module 7 are arranged. The work module 7 comprises an intermediate frame 8, a motor frame 9 and a grinding unit 10. The energy module 6 is arranged on the support frame 5 via quick-release fasteners 11 to be mechanically detachable. For regulation of the gauge, the support frame 5 is designed in sections. By means of a handle 12, the grinding machine 1 is manually displaceable in a longitudinal direction 13 of the track.

The intermediate frame 8 supported on the support frame 5 via roller elements 14, and thus the motor frame 9 including the grinding unit 10, is arranged for displacement in a transverse direction 16 of the track via a lever 15. The lever 15 is connected to the intermediate frame 8 by means of a linkage 17. Via a locking device 18, the intermediate frame 8 can be manually fixed to the support frame 5.

By means of a first hand wheel 19, the motor frame 9 mounted in the intermediate frame 8 can be adjusted together with the grinding unit 10 in a vertical direction 20. Via a belt drive 22, a second hand wheel 21 causes a rotary motion of the grinding unit 10 mounted in the motor frame 9 on a longitudinal axis 23.

In a variant not shown, the rotary motion could be transmitted by a worm gear instead of the belt drive 22.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the grinding unit 10 including a free angular positioning device 24. To that end, the motor frame 9 including the grinding unit 10 is mounted in the intermediate frame 8 on a vertical axis 25 for pivoting about a free positioning angle □ □ □ The required pivoting region, and thus the grinding unit 10, is adjusted relative to the rail 2 via two handles 26 and locked via clamping levers 27.

FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the motor frame 9 including the grinding unit 10. The grinding unit 10 comprises an electric motor 28 and a grinding tool 29. The grinding tool 29 is shown as a dish grinding wheel and is exchanged for other grinding tools according to the particular application (cup grinding wheel).

In this, the grinding tool 29 is connected directly to a rotor shaft of the electric motor 28, resulting in a particularly compact design of the grinding unit 10. In this way, it is possible to pivot the grinding unit 10 about the longitudinal axis 23 by at least 180° and thus to ensure the flexible possibilities of application. The electrical connection to the energy module 6 is provided via sliding contacts or a flexible cable.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show an excerpt of different working positions of the grinding unit 10. In FIG. 4, the grinding unit 10 is on a side facing the track center 30. The grinding unit 10 is in the initial position, is oriented horizontally and treats an inner side of a rail head 31. In FIG. 5, an outer side of the rail head 31 is worked on. To that end, the grinding unit 10 is raised via the first hand wheel 19, displaced by means of the lever 15, and lowered again. FIG. 6 shows the grinding unit 10 rotated by 90° via the second hand wheel 21 for treating an inner rail web 32. In FIG. 7, the outer rail web 32 is worked on. 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A grinding machine for grinding rails of a track, the grinding machine comprising: a support frame with guide rollers for rolling on the rails and for displacement in a longitudinal direction of the track; an energy module and a work module supported on said support frame; said work module including a pivotable grinding unit having an electric motor and a grinding tool powered by said electric motor; and a motor frame supporting said grinding unit for pivoting about a longitudinal axis in said motor frame, said motor frame being adjustably mounted relative to said support frame.
 16. The grinding machine according to claim 15, wherein said grinding unit is pivotable relative to said motor frame by at least 180°.
 17. The grinding machine according to claim 15, wherein said electric motor is an encapsulated motor.
 18. The grinding machine according to claim 17, wherein said grinding machine comprises a heat exchanger and a pump, and said electric motor has a liquid cooling system.
 19. The grinding machine according to claim 17, wherein said grinding machine comprises a compressor, and said electric motor is configured with compressed air cooling.
 20. The grinding machine according to claim 15, which comprises sliding contacts connecting said electric motor with said energy module.
 21. The grinding machine according to claim 15, which comprises a flexible cable and a plug connection connecting said electric motor with said energy module.
 22. The grinding machine according to claim 15, further comprising an intermediate frame adjustably mounted in a transverse direction relative to said support frame, and wherein said motor frame is supported for vertical adjustment in said intermediate frame.
 23. The grinding machine according to claim 22, wherein that said motor frame is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis relative to said intermediate frame for free angular positioning of said grinding tool.
 24. The grinding machine according to claim 22, wherein said intermediate frame is mounted on said support frame by way of manually detachable roller elements.
 25. The grinding machine according to claim 15, wherein said energy module comprises a combustion engine and generator unit.
 26. The grinding machine according to claim 15, wherein said energy module comprises an electric energy storage device.
 27. The grinding machine according to claim 15, wherein said support frame is composed of parts wherein a spacing distance between said guide rollers associated with one rail and said guide rollers associated another other rail is adjustable.
 28. The grinding machine according to claim 15, wherein said energy module is connected to said support frame by way of manually detachable quick-release fasteners. 